Bathing cap



BATHING CAP Filed April 2 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR\$ ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1923. ififisfmfi L.YAUSTER ET AL BATHI NG CAP Filed April 2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jam Mk5 jlm'z'ejmiez' INVENTORS WNE I f H ATTORNEY aten'ted Aug. 21,

LOUIS AUSTER AND MARIE AUSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BATHING CAP.

Application filed April 2, 1923. Serial No. 629,456.

To all whom) it may concern:

Be it known that we, LoUIs AUSTEB and MARIE Ausrnn, citizens of the United States, reglgling at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bathing Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bathing caps, devices and adjuncts therefor intended particularly for use by women bathers, and an object of the invention is to provide means to positively prevent water from entering the free edge and interior of the cap when worn.

The invention has among its several objects certain new and novel improvements in construction and function arranged in a manner to effectively prevent the entrance of water beneath the edge and interior of the cap and permit the cap to fit comfortably upon the head. Heretofore caps of this nature have been so formed that excess pressure and tension of the free edge thereof is brought to bear against the head and ears and acts to retard free blood circulation, resulting in great discomfort to the wearer and frequent headaches and other objections.

By reason of ournew and noy'el construction, means are employed for avoiding the customary discomfort, inconvenience and annoyance caused by wet hair, as well as absolutely protecting the hair from injury due to the action of salt water.

A further object of the invention is to provide the wearer with means of being relieved from the unavoidable and uncomfortable pressure of the cap against the ears due to tension when the cap is expanded beyond its normal size and contracted against the head of the wearer.

In the ordinary manufacture of rubber bathin caps, the bottom edges or bands thereo have been limited in construction and by necessity were cut on a straight line.

.The term bottom edges or hands is used to designate the part of the cap encircling the head from the forehead, against the ears and around the back of the neck. The object for cutting the lower edges or bands on a straight line is for the purpose of creating a direct contracting force when the band embraces the head. Caps of this char acter are in general use and do not serve to effectively prevent the entrance of water to the.cap, irrespective of the force of pressure of the band when contracted against the head. This is particularly due to irregularities in the contour of the head.

For example, when a rubber cap is stretched over the smooth portions of the head such as the forehead, an effective reslstance against the entrance of water re- .sults, ,but with the part of the cap stretched over and covering the ears and due to the bony structures around the ears it has been impossible to close the joints at these oints and at the neck and in consequence t 'ereof water freely finds entrance to cap around the neck and ears.

Our invention has been desi ned to overcome the objections herein re erred to and adapt itself to all irregularities of the head so as to uniformly seal the joint entirely around the head and positively prevent the entrance of water into the cap.

With these and other objects in view, thev Figure 3 is a vertical section through a portion of the cap. showing the same applied.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a to plan view thereof.

Figure 6 is a si e elevation with parts in section of a further modified form of the invention.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a still further modified form.

' Figure 8 is a section taken approximately on line 88 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing a modified form of a rib.

Figure 10 is a similar view of a further modified form of rib.

With reference to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive and Figure 8, I provide a bathing cap 12 formed of rubber and consisting of an outer head enclosing body or member 13 and an inner head embracing band or member 14, the latterbeing vulcanized or otherwise suitably secured at to one side of the body 13 above the reinforcing band or lower edge 16 thereof. Both of the members 13 and 14 are formed of rubber which may be reinforced in any suitable well-known manner.

The band 14 is irregularly out along its lower edge at 17 and at its upper edge is cut on an approximately straight line as at 18. The lower edge of the body 13 is cut on a straight line. The said band 14 is provided at its opposite sides between its front and rear ends with bifurcations 19 whose limbs are made to straddle the ears when the cap is worn. The portions in which the bifurcations are formed are preferably constructed of flexible inelastic waterproof material 20 which may consist of rubber coated textile material.

These portions 20 are bounded by arcuate laterally extending spacing ribs 21, the rear legs 22 of which are curved in conformation with the sides of the band rearwardly of said bifurcations and which extend at 23 to a point approximately in line with the medial part of the back of said band 14. .This-is clearly shown in Figure 5 and provides a flexible joint at the back of the band, whereby to permit the band to be folded in a flat package. a

When it is desired to use the cap the band 14 is adjusted over the forehead so as to uniformly adapt itself to the contour thereof and the bifurcations 19 are made to accommodate the ears of the wearer. From the bifurcations the band is extended rearwardly of the ears and then against the back of the neck. By forming the portions 20 of inelastic material relatively permanent forms are given the bifurcations 19 so as to permit same to always comfortably adapt themselves to the ears. Band 14 is smooth on inner surface and when the band is adjusted as aforesaid the ribs 21 co-act with the portions 20 to define ear accommodating cavities as best illustrated in Figure 3. Assuming that the band has been operatively adjusted upon the head and around the ears, the outer body 13 is pulled downward so that the band 16 comes below the lower edge of the band 14 whereby to be contracted through the inherent action of the rubber and to engage against the forehead and at points beneath the ears and against the back of the neck so as to seal the joint between the cap and the head and positively prevent the entrance of water into the cap. The ribs 21 aside from serving to partly define accommodating cavities for the ears operate to form rests for the side walls of the body 13 when the latter is stretched over the head. This causes the base or band 16 of the body 13 to snugly accommodate itself to the head at points beneath the ears and around the back of the neck. In this manner the band 16 snugly conforms to irregularities of the naeepoe head at points where it has been impossible in bathin caps to properly seal the joint between t e cap and the head while affording perfect comfort to the wearer. By causing the side walls of the body 13 to bear against the ribs we not only place these sides under sli ht tension but relieve the ears of the ful pressure of these walls to thereby afford maximum comfort.

In Figure 4, the band 14 is separate and may be used in connection with any suitable well-known form of elastic head covering wherein the band of the covering or free edge thereof is adapted to come below the lower edge of the band 14*. In use of this form the band 14 is adjusted to the head and an independent detached cap is then adjusted over the band to function in accordance with previous statements herein contained.

In Figure 6 the head covering member 13 is formed of rubber and the base is-irregularly curved at its free edge as shown at 13 and bifurcated at its sides 13 to accommodate the ears. Ribs 13 extend around the bifurcations and the rear legs thereof are extended rearwardly at 13" to a point mediially of the rear of the body. Vulcanized or otherwise suitably secured to the body 13 is an elastic skirt 13 which extends below the free edge of said body. The invention is otherwise identical with the forms previously described and is a reversal of the form shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive but inwardly extending rib 14 which bears directly a ainst the head at points below the ears an against the sides of the head rearwardly of the ears. This is a reversal of any of the arrangements hereinbefore described but functions the same. The head covering 14' is of elastic material vulcanized or otherwise suitably secured at 14 to the band 14 and adapted to extend over and embrace the same and to be terminally contracted at l4 against the forehead, sides of the head, under the ears and against the back of the neck.

In Figure 9, a rib 21 of circular formanape of the neck.

2. In combination, a bathing cap, an

elastic band connected to the cap along a vertical portion of said band, a rib for spacing the cap from said band at points on the cap where said cap embraces the ears and nape of the neck.

} 3. In combination, a bathing cap, an elastic band within the cap, and means carried by the band for spacing the cap from the band at points on the cap where said cap embraces the ears, and for causing the periphery of the open end of the cap to engage the portions of the head which are adjacent the periphery of the cap and thereby seal the cap against passage of water.

4. In combination, a bathing cap, an elastic band within the cap and provided with ear straddling cut-out portions to receive the ears, a rib for spacing the cap from the band at points on the cap where said cap embraces the ears and nape of the neck.

5. In combination, a bathing cap having the edge of said cap at its open end formed along an irregular line with ear straddling cut-out portions, an elastic band of a width to include the full height of the ears, ribs surrounding the ear straddling portions and a rib connecting the first mentioned ribs and located at the back of said cap, said ribs elevating portions of the cap and compensating for the irregular contour of the head at the back of the ears and nape of the neck and causing said band to seal the cap against the passage of water.

6. A Water guard for bathing caps comprising an elastic band of a width to include the ears of the wearer between the opposite edges of the band and provided with ear-shaped cut-out portions to receive and straddle the ears, substantially throughout their height, and ribs on the band spaced from and substantially paralleling the periphery of the cut-out portion.

7. A water guardfor bathing caps, comprising an elastic band, an inverted substantially U-shaped rib on each side of said band adapted to protect the ears from the thrust of a-cap.

8. A water guard for bathing caps comprising an elastic band, said band being provided with projecting means paralleling the ears to reduce direct pressure of a bathing cap upon the ears and for compensating for the irregular contour of the head behind the ears and nape of the neck.

9. A waterguard for bathing caps comprising an elastic band provided with ribs paralleling the ears and terminating at one end at the rear and adjacent the lowest point of the ears, and a rib connecting said mentioned ends of the ribs.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures.

LOUIS AUSTER. MARIE AUSTER. 

